M3 Problem-Rangefinder not working?

[ornate_wrasse]

Notice how when you change the focus the inner part of the lens moves in and out? This is what moves the cam in the camera.
Does yours do that?

When I move the focusing tab from one end to the other end, the inner part of the lens does not move at all. Of course, the inner part of lens opens and closes as I change the aperture, but not when I move the focusing tab around the barrel of the lens.

Ellen

 

[AlwaysOnAuto]

Sounds like the focus helicoid (not sure if that's the correct term/name) is stripped then.
How does it feel when you move the focus tab?
Is it smooth or does it feel gritty?

 

[AlwaysOnAuto]

Something may have come loose during the plane ride.
I'm not all that familiar with lenses but from what I can see on mine I surmise that there's a mechanism that holds the elements in place and as you rotate the focus tab, the helicoid causes them to move in and out of the barrel. If they aren't moving you've lost the mechanical 'lock' to the barrel so to speak so it won't move in and out, it'll just turn. I'm sure Youxin will make it right again, whether or not for free is another question though.

 

[ornate_wrasse]

How does it feel when you move the focus tab? Is it smooth or does it feel gritty?

It feels pretty smooth to me.

 

[AlwaysOnAuto]

One last question, are there any small screws missing from the outside of the lens? (ie any empty holes?)

 

[ornate_wrasse]

Something may have come loose during the plane ride.
I'm not all that familiar with lenses but from what I can see on mine I surmise that there's a mechanism that holds the elements in place and as you rotate the focus tab, the helicoid causes them to move in and out of the barrel. If they aren't moving you've lost the mechanical 'lock' to the barrel so to speak so it won't move in and out, it'll just turn. I'm sure Youxin will make it right again, whether or not for free is another question though.

Thank you for the serious investigative work you have done to narrow down the problem! I really appreciate the time you took to look at this issue.

The next thing to do is for me to contact Youxin and let him know of the problem, I'll cross my fingers that he won't charge too much, if anything, to fix it. 🙂 As I recall, I paid just over $500 for this lens and really don't want to put too much more $$$ into it.

Thanks again for your help.

Ellen

 

[AlwaysOnAuto]

No problem at all.
Fixing problems was what I used to do for a living in another lifetime.
Good luck getting it fixed. I don't think it'll be a big deal at all.

 

[ornate_wrasse]

One last question, are there any small screws missing from the outside of the lens? (ie any empty holes?)

Upon inspection, there do not appear to be any small screws missing from the outside of the lens.

 

[AlwaysOnAuto]

If there are any camera shops in your neck of the woods that have an in-house repairman I'd suggest you check with them on how much to fix it. It might be the same or less than shipping the lens back to Youxin.

 

[ornate_wrasse]

If there are any camera shops in your neck of the woods that have an in-house repairman I'd suggest you check with them on how much to fix it. It might be the same or less than shipping the lens back to Youxin.

Great idea! I'll check with the local camera shops as there are indeed a couple of shops around here that would be able to do the work.

Thanks.

Ellen

 

[ornate_wrasse]

IMPORTANT FOLLOW UP-

I just got off the phone with satedesco and, thanks to him, the lens is now working fine.

He spent a considerable amount of time with me to attempt to prove his hypothesis. He thought the lens was stuck in the "close focusing range" (apologies for not describing this correctly) where the focusing ability of the lens is not coupled to the rangefinder on the camera. Apparently that's the reason why I could not focus it properly.

The good news is that, with his help, we were able to get it working properly. This is in spite of the fact that he is 3,000+ miles away from me and the only way we could communicate was on the phone, which can be somewhat of a hindrance when attempting to fix a non-working lens 🙂

I am so thankful for this forum and the ability of its members to jump in and help a member when there is a problem.

Thank you Steven.

Ellen

 

[AlwaysOnAuto]

I'd like to know about this since I have the same camera/lens combo.

 

[AlwaysOnAuto]

This doesn't make sense since you said you tried two other lenses and they focused perfectly on the camera. It has to have been something to do with the lens (the 1.4) itself, not the camera.

 

[ornate_wrasse]

This doesn't make sense since you said you tried two other lenses and they focused perfectly on the camera. It has to have been something to do with the lens (the 1.4) itself, not the camera.

Oops! I meant to say the ~lens~ was stuck in the close focusing range. I'll change the wording in my post to avoid confusion.

The problem was definitely with the lens.

Sorry for any confusion!

 

[AlwaysOnAuto]

How did you 'unstuck' it?

 

[AlwaysOnAuto]

I think I know of what you're speaking now. I looked at my lens again, and fooling with it notice that there's a distinct point in the focusing that seems like it goes into another 'gear'.
The picture I attached shows the lens at the point of travel that I can feel that second 'gear'.

 

[AlwaysOnAuto]

So I will assume that your lens wouldn't allow the infinity lock to engage since it was stuck in close focusing. Correct or didn't you notice this before unsticking it?

 

[ornate_wrasse]

How did you 'unstuck' it?

First of all, he had me remove the adapter from the lens. Then he had me put the black triangular pointer at infinity (INF on this lens). He then had me, using the focus tab, move the lens from INF to between 3 and 3.5 feet on the focusing scale. My lens would not go further than a little ways past 3.5 feet. I was checking the threads moving as I moved the focusing tab.
After we did all of this, he had me put the adapter back on the lens and mount the lens on my M3. He told me to focus on something 3-6 feet away.
Voila, it worked perfectly and I was able to focus as I normally do.

You will probably have to talk to him to get a more technical explanation beyond what I'm able to tell you.

Apparently this lens has the ability to focus closer than the M3 is able to.
The lens was in this range where it is not coupled to the camera's rangefinder. That's why, regardless of the fact that I moved the focusing tab all around the lens, it would not focus. As soon as I was able to move the lens outside of this range, it worked perfectly.

 

[ornate_wrasse]

I think I know of what you're speaking now. I looked at my lens again, and fooling with it notice that there's a distinct point in the focusing that seems like it goes into another 'gear'.

You got it! He mentioned there was a ball-bearing that it has to go past to get into this area of non-coupling.

 

[ornate_wrasse]

So I will assume that your lens wouldn't allow the infinity lock to engage since it was stuck in close focusing. Correct or didn't you notice this before unsticking it?

I did not notice.